Variable playback speed template for video editing application

ABSTRACT

A playback speed effect is applied to a video using a playback speed template. The playback speed template specifies playback speed ratios (i.e., ratios between playback duration and capture duration) at the highlight moment, at a template start time, and at a template end time. A video associated with a highlight tag indicating a highlight capture time of a highlight moment within the video is accessed. An input portion of the video including the highlight moment is identified. The duration of the input portion has a duration depending on the template start time and the template end time. A playback speed template is applied to the input portion. A modified video including a modified video portion is generated from the input portion of the video according to the applied playback speed template and is provided for subsequent playback.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

This disclosure relates to a camera system, and more specifically, to processing video data captured using a camera system.

Description of the Related Art

Digital cameras are increasingly used to capture videos in a variety of settings, for instance outdoors or in a sports environment. However, as users capture increasingly more and longer videos, video management becomes increasingly difficult. Manually searching through raw videos (“scrubbing”) to identify the best scenes is extremely time consuming. Automated video processing to identify the best scenes can be very resource-intensive, particularly with high-resolution, raw-format video data. Even when a best scene is identified, modifying a scene can be a labor-intensive process. For example, to apply a slow-motion effect, a user selects a start time, an end time, and a degree of slow-motion effect. However, a sudden change from normal playback speed to slow-motion playback results in an unpolished video with a less professional feel. To apply a more polished slow-motion effect, a user can specify different digress of slow-motion effect between a start time and an end time. However, specifying these different degrees of slow-motion effect over the course of the scene is a laborious process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosed embodiments have other advantages and features which will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a camera system environment according to one example embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a camera system, according to one example embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a video server, according to one example embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for selecting video portions to include in a video summary, according to one example embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for generating video summaries using video templates, according to one example embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method for generating video summaries of videos associated with user-tagged events, according to one example embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of identifying an activity associated with a video, according to one example embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method of sharing a video based on an identified activity within the video, according to one example embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of generating a video with modified playback speed using a playback speed template, according to one example embodiment.

FIGS. 10A-10D are graphs illustrating various playback speed templates, according to one example embodiment.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are graphs illustrating application of a playback speed template to a portion of a video according to one example embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The figures and the following description relate to preferred embodiments by way of illustration only. It should be noted that from the following discussion, alternative embodiments of the structures and methods disclosed herein will be readily recognized as viable alternatives that may be employed without departing from the principles of what is claimed.

Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying figures. It is noted that wherever practicable similar or like reference numbers may be used in the figures and may indicate similar or like functionality. The figures depict embodiments of the disclosed system (or method) for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles described herein.

Example Camera System Configuration

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a camera system environment, according to one embodiment. The camera system environment 100 includes one or more metadata sources 110, a network 120, a camera 130, a client device 135, and a video server 140. In alternative configurations, different and/or additional components may be included in the camera system environment 100. Examples of metadata sources 110 include sensors (such as accelerometers, speedometers, rotation sensors, GPS sensors, altimeters, and the like), camera inputs (such as an image sensor, microphones, buttons, and the like), and data sources (such as external servers, web pages, local memory, and the like). Although not shown in FIG. 1, it should be noted that in some embodiments, one or more of the metadata sources 110 can be included within the camera 130.

The camera 130 can include a camera body having a camera lens structured on a front surface of the camera body, various indicators on the front of the surface of the camera body (e.g., LEDs, displays), various input mechanisms (e.g., buttons, switches, and touch-screen mechanisms), and electronics (e.g., imaging electronics, power electronics, metadata sensors) internal to the camera body for capturing images via the camera lens and/or performing other functions. As described in greater detail in conjunction with FIG. 2 below, the camera 130 can include sensors to capture metadata associated with video data, such as motion data, speed data, acceleration data, altitude data, GPS data, and the like. With the camera 130, a user can record or capture videos in conjunction with associated metadata, which the user can edit at a later time.

The video server 140 receives and stores videos captured by the camera 130 allowing a user to access the videos at a later time. In one embodiment, the video server 140 provides the user with an interface, such as a web page or native application installed on the client device 135, to interact with and/or edit the videos captured by the user. In one embodiment, the video server 140 generates video summaries of various videos stored at the video server, as described in greater detail in conjunction with FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 below. As used herein, “video summary” refers to a generated video including portions of one or more other videos. A video summary often includes highlights (or “best scenes”) of a video captured by a user. In some embodiments, best scenes include events of interest within the captured video, scenes associated with certain metadata (such as an above threshold altitude or speed), scenes associated with certain camera or environmental characteristics, and the like. For example, in a video captured during a snowboarding trip, the best scenes in the video are captured while the user jumps or tricks. In addition to including one or more highlights of the video, a video summary can also capture the experience, theme, or story associated with the video without requiring significant manual editing by the user. In one embodiment, the video server 140 identifies the best scenes in raw video based on the metadata associated with the video. The video server 140 may then generate a video summary using the identified best scenes of the video. The metadata can either be captured by the camera 130 during the capture of the video or can be retrieved from one or more metadata sources 110 after the capture of the video.

Metadata includes information about the video itself, the camera used to capture the video, the environment or setting in which a video is captured or any other information associated with the capture of the video. For example, metadata can include acceleration data representative of the acceleration of a camera 130 attached to a user as the user captures a video while snowboarding down a mountain. Such acceleration metadata may indicate events representing a sudden change in acceleration during the capture of the video due to the user performing a trick or jumping while skiing. Thus, metadata associated with a captured video can be used to identify best scenes in a video recorded by a user without relying on image processing techniques or manual curation by a user.

Examples of metadata include: telemetry data (e.g., motion data, velocity data, acceleration data) captured by sensors on the camera 130; location information captured by a GPS receiver of the camera 130; compass heading information; altitude information of the camera 130; biometric data such as the heart rate of the user, breathing of the user, eye movement of the user, body movement of the user, and the like; vehicle data such as the velocity or acceleration of the vehicle, the brake pressure of the vehicle, or the rotations per minute (RPM) of the vehicle engine; or environment data such as the weather information associated with the capture of the video. The video server 140 may receive metadata directly from the camera 130 (for instance, in association with receiving video from the camera), from a client device 135 (such as a mobile phone, computer, or vehicle system associated with the capture of video), or from external metadata sources 110 such as web pages, blogs, databases, social networking sites, or servers or devices storing information associated with the user (e.g., a user may use a fitness device recording fitness data).

A user can interact with interfaces provided by the video server 140 via the client device 135. The client device 135 is any computing device capable of receiving user inputs as well as transmitting and/or receiving data via the network 120. In one embodiment, the client device 135 is a conventional computer system, such as a desktop or a laptop computer. Alternatively, the client device 135 may be a device having computer functionality, such as a tablet, smartphone, mobile telephone, personal digital assistant (PDA), or another suitable device. The user can use the client device to view and interact with or edit videos stored on the video server 140. For example, the user can view web pages including video summaries for a set of videos captured by the camera 130 via a web browser on the client device 135.

One or more input devices associated with the client device 135 receive input from the user. For example, the client device 135 can include a touch-sensitive display, a keyboard, a trackpad, a mouse, a voice recognition system, and the like. In some embodiments, the client device 135 can access video data and/or metadata from the camera 130 or one or more metadata sources 110, and can transfer the accessed metadata to the video server 140. For example, the client device may retrieve videos and metadata associated with the videos from the camera via a universal serial bus (USB) cable coupling the camera 130 and the client device 135. The client device can then upload the retrieved videos and metadata to the video server 140.

In one embodiment, the client device 135 executes an application allowing a user of the client device 135 to interact with the video server 140. For example, a user can identify metadata properties using an application executing on the client device 135, and the application can communicate the identified metadata properties selected by a user to the video server 140 to generate and/or customize a video summary. As another example, the client device 135 can execute a web browser configured to allow a user to select video summary properties, which in turn can communicate the selected video summary properties to the video server 140 for use in generating a video summary. In one embodiment, the client device 135 interacts with the video server 140 through an application programming interface (API) running on a native operating system of the client device 135, such as IOS® or ANDROID™. While FIG. 1 shows a single client device 135, in various embodiments, any number of client devices 135 may communicate with the video server 140.

The video server 140 communicates with the client device 135, the metadata sources 110, and the camera 130 via the network 120, which may include any combination of local area and/or wide area networks, using both wired and/or wireless communication systems. In one embodiment, the network 120 uses standard communications technologies and/or protocols. In some embodiments, all or some of the communication links of the network 120 may be encrypted using any suitable technique or techniques. It should be noted that in some embodiments, the video server 140 is located within the camera 130 itself.

Example Camera Configuration

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a camera system, according to one embodiment. The camera 130 includes one or more microcontrollers 202 (such as one or more microprocessors or other processors) that control the operation and functionality of the camera 130. A lens and focus controller 206 is configured to control the operation and configuration of the camera lens. A system memory 204 is configured to store executable computer instructions that, when executed by the microcontroller 202, perform the camera functionalities described herein. A synchronization interface 208 is configured to synchronize the camera 130 with other cameras or with other external devices, such as a remote control, a second camera 130, a smartphone, a client device 135, or a video server 140.

A controller hub 230 transmits and receives information from various I/O components. In one embodiment, the controller hub 230 interfaces with LED lights 236, a display 232, buttons 234, microphones such as microphones 222, speakers, and the like.

A sensor controller 220 receives image or video input from an image sensor 212. The sensor controller 220 receives audio inputs from one or more microphones, such as microphone 212 a and microphone 212 b. Metadata sensors 224, such as an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, a global positioning system (GPS) sensor, or an altimeter may be coupled to the sensor controller 220. The metadata sensors 224 each collect data measuring the environment and aspect in which the video is captured. For example, the accelerometer 220 collects motion data, comprising velocity and/or acceleration vectors representative of motion of the camera 130, the gyroscope provides orientation data describing the orientation of the camera 130, the GPS sensor provides GPS coordinates identifying the location of the camera 130, and the altimeter measures the altitude of the camera 130. The metadata sensors 224 are rigidly coupled to the camera 130 such that any motion (e.g., change in orientation, change in position) experienced by the camera 130 is also experienced by the metadata sensors 224. The sensor controller 220 synchronizes the various types of data received from the various sensors connected to the sensor controller 220. For example, the sensor controller 220 associates sensor data with a time stamp representing when the sensor captured the sensor data was captured by each sensor. Using the time stamp, the measurements received from the metadata sensors 224 can correlated with the corresponding video frames captured by the image sensor 212. In one embodiment, the sensor controller begins collecting metadata from the metadata sources 110 when the camera 130 begins recording a video. In one embodiment, the sensor controller 220 or the microcontroller 202 performs operations on the received metadata to generate additional metadata information. For example, the microcontroller 202 integrates the received acceleration data to determine the velocity profile of the camera 130 during the recording of a video.

Additional components connected to the microcontroller 202 include an I/O port interface 238 and an expansion pack interface 240. The I/O port interface 238 may facilitate the receiving or transmitting video or audio information through an I/O port. Examples of I/O ports or interfaces include USB ports, HDMI ports, Ethernet ports, audio ports, and the like. Furthermore, embodiments of the I/O port interface 238 may include wireless ports that can accommodate wireless connections. Examples of wireless ports include Bluetooth, Wireless USB, Near Field Communication (NFC), and the like. The expansion pack interface 240 is configured to interface with camera add-ons and removable expansion packs, such as a display module, an extra battery module, a wireless module, and the like.

Example Video Server Architecture

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an architecture of the video server. The video server 140 in the embodiment of FIG. 3 includes a user storage module 305 (“user store” hereinafter), a video storage module 310 (“video store” hereinafter), a template storage module 315 (“template store” hereinafter), a video editing module 320, a metadata storage module 325 (“metadata store” hereinafter), a web server 330, an activity identifier 335, an activity storage module 340 (“activity store” hereinafter), and a playback speed modification module 345 (“playback speed modifier” hereinafter). In other embodiments, the video server 140 may include additional, fewer, or different components for performing the functionalities described herein. Conventional components such as network interfaces, security functions, load balancers, failover servers, management and network operations consoles, and the like are not shown so as to not obscure the details of the system architecture.

Each user of the video server 140 creates a user account, and user account information is stored in the user store 305. A user account includes information provided by the user (e.g., biographic information, geographic information) and may also include additional information inferred by the video server 140 (e.g., information associated with a user's previous use of a camera). Examples of user information include a username, a first and last name, contact information, a user's hometown or geographic region, other location information associated with the user, and the like. The user store 305 may include data describing interactions between a user and videos captured by the user. For example, a user account can include a unique identifier associating videos uploaded by the user with the user's user account.

The video store 310 stores videos captured and uploaded by users of the video server 140. The video server 140 may access videos captured using the camera 130 and store the videos in the video store 310. In one example, the video server 140 may provide the user with an interface executing on the client device 135 that the user may use to upload videos to the video store 315. In one embodiment, the video server 140 indexes videos retrieved from the camera 130 or the client device 135, and stores information associated with the indexed videos in the video store. For example, the video server 140 provides the user with an interface to select one or more index filters used to index videos. Examples of index filters include but are not limited to: the type of equipment used by the user (e.g., ski equipment, mountain bike equipment, etc.), the type of activity being performed by the user while the video was captured (e.g., skiing, scuba diving, skydiving, mountain biking, etc.), the time and date at which the video was captured, or the type of camera 130 used by the user.

In some embodiments, the video server 140 generates a unique identifier for each video stored in the video store 310. In some embodiments, the generated identifier for a particular video is unique to a particular user. For example, each user can be associated with a first unique identifier (such as a 10-digit alphanumeric string), and each video captured by a user is associated with a second unique identifier made up of the first unique identifier associated with the user concatenated with a video identifier (such as an 8-digit alphanumeric string unique to the user). Thus, a video identifier may be used to identify the user who captured the video associated with the video identifier. Alternatively or additionally, videos are associated with a media identifier determined based on content of a video file. For example, data bits from selected video frames, the number of data bits from selected video frames, data bits from selected audio channels, and the number of audio samples from selected audio channels are hashed to generate a 128-bit media identifier. Thus, a video identifier is unique among all videos stored at the video store 310 (or is very unlikely to have a matching identifier).

The metadata store 325 stores metadata associated with videos stored by the video store 310. For instance, the video server 140 can retrieve metadata from the camera 130, the client device 135, or one or more metadata sources 110, can associate the metadata with the corresponding video (for instance by associating the metadata with the unique video identifier), and can store the metadata in the metadata store 325. The metadata store 325 can store any type of metadata, including but not limited to the types of metadata described herein. It should be noted that in some embodiments, metadata corresponding to a video is stored within a video file itself, and not in a separate storage module.

The web server 330 provides a communicative interface between the video server 140 and other entities of the environment of FIG. 1. For example, the web server 330 can access videos and associated metadata from the camera 130 or the client device 135 to store in the video store 310 and the metadata store 325, respectively. The web server 330 can also receive user input provided to the client device 135, can request video summary templates or other information from a client device 135 for use in generating a video summary, and can provide a generated video summary to the client device or another external entity.

Event of Interest/Activity Identification

The video editing module 320 analyzes metadata associated with a video to identify best scenes of the video based on identified events of interest or activities, and generates a video summary including one or more of the identified best scenes of the video. The video editing module 320 first accesses one or more videos from the video store 310, and accesses metadata associated with the accessed videos from the metadata store 325. The video editing module 320 then analyzes the metadata to identify events of interest in the metadata. Examples of events of interest can include abrupt changes or anomalies in the metadata, such as a peak or valley in metadata, maximum or minimum values within the metadata, metadata exceeding or falling below particular thresholds, metadata within a threshold of predetermine values (for instance, within 20 meters of a particular location or within), and the like. The video editing module 320 can identify events of interest in videos based on any other type of metadata, such as a heart rate of a user, orientation information, and the like.

For example, the video editing module 320 can identify any of the following as an event of interest within the metadata: a greater than threshold change in acceleration or velocity within a pre-determined period of time, a maximum or above-threshold velocity or acceleration, a maximum or local maximum altitude, a maximum or above-threshold heart rate or breathing rate of a user, a maximum or above-threshold audio magnitude, a user location within a pre-determined threshold distance from a pre-determined location, a threshold change in or pre-determined orientation of the camera or user, a proximity to another user or location, a time within a threshold of a pre-determined time, a pre-determined environmental condition (e.g., a particular weather event, a particular temperature, a sporting event, a human gathering, a non-human gathering, or any other suitable event), or any other event associated with particular metadata.

In some embodiments, a user can manually indicate an event of interest during capture of the video. For example, a user can press a button on the camera or a camera remote or otherwise interact with the camera during the capture of video to tag the video as including an event of interest. The manually tagged event of interest can be indicated within metadata associated with the captured video. For example, if a user is capturing video while snowboarding and presses a camera button associated with manually tagging an event of interest, the camera creates metadata associated with the captured video indicating that the video includes an event of interest, and indicating a time or portion within the captured video at which the tagged event of interest occurs. In some embodiments, the manual tagging of an event of interest by a user while capturing video is stored as a flag within a resulting video file. The location of the flag within the video file corresponds to a time within the video at which the user manually tags the event of interest.

In some embodiments, a user can manually indicate an event of interest during capture of the video using a spoken command or audio signal. For instance, a user can say “Tag” or “Tag my moment” during the capture of video to tag the video as including an event of interest. The audio-tagged event of interest can be indicated within metadata associated with the captured video. The spoken command can be pre-programmed, for instance by a manufacturer, programmer, or seller of the camera system, or can be customized by a user of the camera system.

For instance, a user can speak a command or other audio signal into a camera during a training period (for instance, in response to configuring the camera into a training mode, or in response to the selection of a button or interface option associated with training a camera to receive a spoken command). The spoken command or audio signal can be repeated during the training mode a threshold number of times (e.g., once, twice, or any number of times necessary for the purposes of identifying audio patterns as described herein), and the camera system can identify an audio pattern associated with the spoken commands or audio signals received during the training period. The audio pattern is then stored at the camera, and, during a video capture configuration, the camera can identify the audio pattern in a spoken command or audio signal received from a user of the camera, and can manually tag an event of interest during the capture of video in response to detecting the stored audio pattern within the received spoken command or audio signal.

In some embodiments, the audio pattern is specific to spoken commands or audio signals received from a particular user and can be detected only in spoken commands or audio signals received from the particular user. In other embodiments, the audio pattern can be identified within spoken commands or audio signals received from any user. It should be noted that manually identified events of interest can be associated with video captured by the camera itself, and can be identified by a system to which the captured video is uploaded from the camera without significant additional post-processing.

As noted above, the video editing module 320 can identify events of interest based on activities performed by users when the videos are captured. For example, a jump while snowboarding or a crash while skateboarding can be identified as events of interest. Activities can be identified by the activity identifier module 335 based on metadata associated with the video captured while performing the activities. Continuing with the previous example, metadata associated with a particular altitude and a parabolic upward and then downward velocity can be identified as a “ski jump.” Continuing the previous example, metadata associated with an initial altitude near sea level, a sudden slowdown in horizontal velocity, and an accompanying increase in pressure can be identified as a “surfing wipeout.”

The video editing module 320 can identify events of interest based on audio captured in conjunction with the video. In some embodiments, the video editing module identifies events of interest based on one or more spoken words or phrases in captured audio. For example, if the camera 110 captures audio of a user saying “Holy Smokes!” or other obscenity, the video editing module can determine that an event of interest just took place (e.g., within the previous 5 seconds or other threshold of time). As another example, if the camera 110 captures audio of a user saying “Oh no! Watch out!” (or some other exigent interjection), the video editing module can determine that an event of interest is about to occur (e.g., within the next 5 seconds or other threshold of time). In addition to identifying events of interest based on captured dialogue, the video editing module can identify an event based on captured sound effects, captured audio exceeding a magnitude or pitch threshold, or captured audio satisfying any other suitable criteria.

In some embodiments, the video editing module 320 can identify video that does not include events of interest. For instance, the video editing module 320 can identify video that is associated with metadata patterns determined to not be of interest to a user. Such patterns can include metadata associated with a below-threshold movement, a below-threshold luminosity, a lack of faces or other recognizable objects within the video, audio data that does not include dialogue or other notable sound effects, and the like. In some embodiments, video determined to not include events of interest can be disqualified from consideration for inclusion in a generated video summary, or can be hidden from a user viewing captured video (in order to increase the chance that the remaining video presented to the user does include events of interest).

The activity identifier module 335 can receive a manual identification of an activity within videos from one or more users. In some embodiments, activities can be tagged during the capture of video. For instance, if a user is about to capture video while performing a snowboarding jump, the user can manually tag the video being captured or about to be captured as “snowboarding jump”. In some embodiments, activities can be tagged after the video is captured, for instance during playback of the video. For instance, a user can tag an activity in a video as a skateboarding crash upon playback of the video.

Activity tags in videos can be stored within metadata associated with the videos. For videos stored in the video store 310, the metadata including activity tags associated with the videos is stored in the metadata store 325. In some embodiments, the activity identifier module 335 identifies metadata patterns associated with particular activities and/or activity tags. For instance, metadata associated with several videos tagged with the activity “skydiving” can be analyzed to identify similarities within the metadata, such as a steep increase in acceleration at a high altitude followed by a high velocity at decreasing altitudes. Metadata patterns associated with particular activities are stored in the activity store 340.

In some embodiments, metadata patterns associated with particular activities can include audio data patterns. For instance, particular sound effects, words or phrases of dialogue, or the like can be associated with particular activities. For example, the spoken phrase “nice wave” can be associated with surfing, and the sound of a revving car engine can be associated with driving or racing a vehicle. In some embodiments, metadata patterns used to identify activities can include the use of particular camera mounts associated with the activities in capturing video. For example, a camera can detect that it is coupled to a snowboard mount, and video captured while coupled to the snowboard mount can be associated with the activity of snowboarding.

Once metadata patterns associated with particular activities are identified, the activity identifier module 335 can identify metadata patterns in metadata associated with other videos, and can tag or associate other videos associated with metadata including the identified metadata patterns with the activities associated with the identified metadata patterns. The activity identifier module 335 can identify and store a plurality of metadata patterns associated with a plurality of activities within the activity store 340. Metadata patterns stored in the activity store 340 can be identified within videos captured by one user, and can be used by the activity identifier module 335 to identify activities within videos captured by the user. Alternatively or additionally, metadata patterns can be identified within videos captured by a first plurality of users, and can be used by the activity identifier module 335 to identify activities within videos captured by a second plurality of users including at least one user not in the first plurality of users. In some embodiments, the activity identifier module 335 aggregates metadata for a plurality of videos associated with an activity and identifies metadata patterns based on the aggregated metadata. As used herein, “tagging” a video with an activity refers to the association of the video with the activity. Activities tagged in videos can be used as a basis to identify best scenes in videos (as described above), and to select video clips for inclusion in video summary templates (as described below).

Videos tagged with activities can be automatically uploaded to or shared with an external system. For instance, if a user captures video, the activity identifier module 335 can identify a metadata pattern associated with an activity in metadata of the captured video, in real-time (as the video is being captured), or after the video is captured (for instance, after the video is uploaded to the video server 140). The video editing module 320 can select a portion of the captured video based on the identified activity, for instance a threshold amount of time or frames around a video clip or frame associated with the identified activity. The selected video portion can be uploaded or shared to an external system, for instance via the web server 330. The uploading or sharing of video portions can be based on one or more user settings and/or the activity identified. For instance, a user can select one or more activities in advance of capturing video, and captured video portions identified as including the selected activities can be uploaded automatically to an external system, and can be automatically shared via one or more social media outlets.

Best Scene Identification and Video Summary Generation

The video editing module 320 identifies best scenes associated with the identified events of interest for inclusion in a video summary. Each best scene is a video clip, portion, or scene (“video clips” hereinafter), and can be an entire video or a portion of a video. For instance, the video editing module 320 can identify video clips occurring within a threshold amount of time of an identified event of interest (such as 3 seconds before and after the event of interest), within a threshold number of frames of an identified event of interest (such as 24 frames before and after the event of interest), and the like. The amount of length of a best scene can be pre-determined, and/or can be selected by a user.

The amount or length of video clip making up a best scene can vary based on an activity associated with captured video, based on a type or value of metadata associated with captured video, based on characteristics of the captured video, based on a camera mode used to capture the video, or any other suitable characteristic. For example, if an identified event of interest is associated with an above-threshold velocity, the video editing module 320 can identify all or part of the video corresponding to above-threshold velocity metadata as the best scene. In another example, the length of a video clip identified as a best scene can be greater for events of interest associated with maximum altitude values than for events of interest associated with proximity to a pre-determined location.

For events of interest manually tagged by a user, the length of a video clip identified as a best scene can be pre-defined by the user, can be manually selected by the user upon tagging the event of interest, can be longer than automatically-identified events of interest, can be based on a user-selected tagging or video capture mode, and the like. The amount or length of video clips making up best scenes can vary based on the underlying activity represented in captured video. For instance, best scenes associated with events of interest in videos captured while boating can be longer than best scenes associated with events of interest in videos captured while skydiving.

The identified video portions make up the best scenes as described herein. The video editing module 320 generates a video summary by combining or concatenating some or all of the identified best scenes into a single video. The video summary thus includes video portions of events of interest, beneficially resulting in a playable video including scenes likely to be of greatest interest to a user. The video editing module 320 can receive one or more video summary configuration selections from a user, each specifying one or more properties of the video summary (such as a length of a video summary, a number of best scenes for inclusion in the video summary, and the like), and can generate the video summary according to the one or more video summary configuration selections. In some embodiments, the video summary is a renderable or playable video file configured for playback on a viewing device (such as a monitor, a computer, a mobile device, a television, and the like). The video summary can be stored in the video store 310, or can be provided by the video server 140 to an external entity for subsequent playback. Alternatively, the video editing module 320 can serve the video summary from the video server 140 by serving each best scene directly from a corresponding best scene video file stored in the video store 310 without compiling a singular video summary file prior to serving the video summary. It should be noted that the video editing module 320 can apply one or more edits, effects, filters, and the like to one or more best scenes within the video summary, or to the entire video summary during the generation of the video summary.

In some embodiments, the video editing module 320 ranks identified best scenes. For instance, best scenes can be ranked based on activities with which they are associated, based on metadata associated with the best scenes, based on length of the best scenes, based on a user-selected preference for characteristics associated with the best scenes, or based on any other suitable criteria. For example, longer best scenes can be ranked higher than shorter best scenes. Likewise, a user can specify that best scenes associated with above-threshold velocities can be ranked higher than best scenes associated with above-threshold heart rates. In another example, best scenes associated with jumps or tricks can be ranked higher than best scenes associated with sitting down or walking Generating a video summary can include identifying and including the highest ranked best scenes in the video summary.

In some embodiments, the video editing module 320 classifies scenes by generating a score associated with each of one or more video classes based on metadata patterns associated with the scenes. Classes can include but are not limited to: content-related classes (e.g., “snow videos,” “surfing videos”), video characteristic classes (“high-motion videos,” “low light videos”), video quality classes, mode of capture classes (based on capture mode, mount used), sensor data classes (“high-velocity videos,” “high-acceleration videos”), audio data classes (“human dialogue videos,” “loud videos”), number of cameras used (“single-camera videos,” “multi-camera videos”), activity identified within the video, and the like. Scenes can be scored for one or more video classes, the scores can be weighted based on a pre-determined or user-defined class importance scale, and the scenes can be ranked based on the scores generated for the scenes.

In one example, the video editing module 320 analyzes metadata associated with accessed videos chronologically to identify an order of events of interest presented within the video. For example, the video editing module 320 can analyze acceleration data to identify an ordered set of video clips associated with acceleration data exceeding a particular threshold. In some embodiments, the video editing module 320 can identify an ordered set of events occurring within a pre-determined period of time. Each event in the identified set of events can be associated with a best scene; if the identified set of events is chronologically ordered, the video editing module 320 can generate a video summary by a combining video clips associated with each identified event in the order of the ordered set of events.

In some embodiments, the video editing module 320 can generate a video summary for a user using only videos associated with (or captured by) the user. To identify such videos, the video editing module 320 can query the video store 310 to identify videos associated with the user. In some embodiments, each video captured by all users of the video server 140 includes a unique identifier identifying the user that captured the video and identifying the video (as described above). In such embodiments, the video editing module 320 queries the video store 310 with an identifier associated with a user to identify videos associated with the user. For example, if all videos associated with User A include a unique identifier that starts with the sequence “X1Y2Z3” (an identifier unique to User A), the video editing module 320 can query the video store 310 using the identifier “X1Y2Z3” to identify all videos associated with User A. The video editing module 320 can then identify best scenes within such videos associated with a user, and can generate a video summary including such best scenes as described herein.

In addition to identifying best scenes, the video editing module 320 can identify one or more video frames that satisfy a set of pre-determined criteria for inclusion in a video summary, or for flagging to a user as candidates for saving as images/photograph stills. The pre-determined criteria can include metadata criteria, including but not limited to: frames with high motion (or blur) in a first portion of a frame and low motion (or blur) in another portion of a frame, frames associated with particular audio data (such as audio data above a particular magnitude threshold or audio data associated with voices or screaming), frames associated with above-threshold acceleration data, or frames associated with metadata that satisfies any other metadata criteria as described herein. In some embodiments, users can specify metadata criteria for use in flagging one or more video frames that satisfy pre-determined criteria. Similarly, in some embodiments, the video editing module 320 can identify metadata patterns or similarities in frames selected by a user to save as images/photograph stills, and can identify subsequent video frames that include the identified metadata patterns or similarities for flagging as candidates to save as images/photograph stills.

Video Summary Templates

In one embodiment, the video editing module 320 retrieves video summary templates from the template store 315 to generate a video summary. The template store 315 includes video summary templates each describing a sequence of video slots for including in a video summary. In one example, each video summary template may be associated with a type of activity performed by the user while capturing video or the equipment used by the user while capturing video. For example, a video summary template for generating video summaries of a ski trip can differ from the video summary template for generating video summaries of a mountain biking trip.

Each slot in a video summary template is a placeholder to be replaced by a video clip or scene when generating a video summary. Each slot in a video summary template can be associated with a pre-defined length, and the slots collectively can vary in length. The slots can be ordered within a template such that once the slots are replaced with video clips, playback of the video summary results in the playback of the video clips in the order of the ordered slots replaced by the video clips. For example, a video summary template may include an introductory slot, an action slot, and a low-activity slot. When generating the video summary using such a template, a video clip can be selected to replace the introductory slot, a video clip of a high-action event can replace the action slot, and a video clip of a low-action event can replace the low-activity slot. It should be noted that different video summary templates can be used to generate video summaries of different lengths or different kinds.

In some embodiments, video summary templates include a sequence of slots associated with a theme or story. For example, a video summary template for a ski trip may include a sequence of slots selected to present the ski trip narratively or thematically. In some embodiments, video summary templates include a sequence of slots selected based on an activity type. For example, a video summary template associated with surfing can include a sequence of slots selected to highlight the activity of surfing.

Each slot in a video summary template can identify characteristics of a video clip to replace the slot within the video summary template, and a video clip can be selected to replace the slot based on the identified characteristics. For example, a slot can identify one or more of the following video clip characteristics: motion data associated with the video clip, altitude information associated with the video clip, location information associated with the video clip, weather information associated with the clip, or any other suitable video characteristic or metadata value or values associated with a video clip. In these embodiments, a video clip having one or more of the characteristics identified by a slot can be selected to replace the slot.

In some embodiments, a video clip can be selected based on a length associated with a slot. For instance, if a video slot specifies a four-second length, a four-second (give or take a pre-determined time range, such as 0.5 seconds) video clip can be selected. In some embodiments, a video clip shorter than the length associated with a slot can be selected, and the selected video clip can replace the slot, reducing the length of time taken by the slot to be equal to the length of the selected video clip. Similarly, a video clip longer than the length associated with a slot can be selected, and either 1) the selected video clip can replace the slot, expanding the length of time associated with the slot to be equal to the length of the selected video clip, or 2) a portion of the selected video clip equal to the length associated with the slot can be selected and used to replace the slot. In some embodiments, the length of time of a video clip can be increased or decreased to match the length associated with a slot by adjusting the frame rate of the video clip to slow down or speed up the video clip, respectively. For example, to increase the amount of time taken by a video clip by 30%, 30% of the frames within the video clip can be duplicated. Likewise, to decrease the amount of time taken by a video clip by 60%, 60% of the frames within the video clip can be removed.

To generate a video summary using a video summary template, the video editing module 320 accesses a video summary template from the template store 315. The accessed video summary template can be selected by a user, can be automatically selected (for instance, based on an activity type or based on characteristics of metadata or video for use in generating the video summary), or can be selected based on any other suitable criteria. The video editing module 320 then selects a video clip for each slot in the video summary template, and inserts the selected video clips into the video summary in the order of the slots within the video summary template.

To select a video clip for each slot, the video editing module 320 can identify a set of candidate video clips for each slot, and can select from the set of candidate video clips (for instance, by selecting the determined best video from the set of candidate video clips according to the principles described above). In some embodiments, selecting a video clip for a video summary template slot identifying a set of video characteristics includes selecting a video clip from a set of candidate video clips that include the identified video characteristics. For example, if a slot identifies a video characteristic of “velocity over 15 mph”, the video editing module 320 can select a video clip associated with metadata indicating that the camera or a user of the camera was traveling at a speed of over 15 miles per hour when the video was captured, and can replace the slot within the video summary template with the selected video clip.

In some embodiments, video summary template slots are replaced by video clips identified as best scenes (as described above). For instance, if a set of candidate video clips are identified for each slot in a video summary template, if one of the candidate video slips identified for a slot is determined to be a best scene, the best scene is selected to replace the slot. In some embodiments, multiple best scenes are identified for a particular slot; in such embodiments, one of the best scenes can be selected for inclusion into the video summary based on characteristics of the best scenes, characteristics of the metadata associated with the best scenes, a ranking of the best scenes, and the like. It should be noted that in some embodiments, if a best scene or other video clip cannot be identified as an above-threshold match for clip requirements associated with a slot, the slot can be removed from the template without replacing the slot with a video clip.

In some embodiments, instead of replacing a video summary template slot with a video clip, an image or frame can be selected and can replace the slot. In some embodiments, an image or frame can be selected that satisfies one or more pre-determined criteria for inclusion in a video summary as described above. In some embodiments, an image or frame can be selected based on one or more criteria specified by the video summary template slot. For example, if a slot specifies one or more characteristics, an image or frame having one or more of the specified characteristics can be selected. In some embodiments, the video summary template slot can specify that an image or frame is to be selected to replace the slot. When an image or frame is selected and used to replace a slot, the image or frame can be displayed for the length of time associated with the slot. For instance, if a slot is associated with a four-second period of display time, an image or frame selected and used to replace the slot can be displayed for the four-second duration.

In some embodiments, when generating a video summary using a video summary template, the video editing module 320 can present a user with a set of candidate video clips for inclusion into one or more video summary template slots, for instance using a video summary generation interface. In such embodiments, the user can presented with a pre-determined number of candidate video clips for a particular slot, and, in response to a selection of a candidate scene by the user, the video editing module 320 can replace the slot with the selected candidate video clip. In some embodiments, the candidate video clips presented to the user for each video summary template slot are the video clips identified as best scenes (as described above). Once a user has selected a video clip for each slot in a video summary template, the video editing module 320 generates a video summary using the user-selected video clips based on the order of slots within the video summary template.

In one embodiment, the video editing module 320 generates video summary templates automatically, and stores the video summary templates in the template store 315. The video summary templates can be generated manually by experts in the field of video creation and video editing. The video editing module 320 may provide a user with a user interface allowing the user to generate video summary templates. Video summary templates can be received from an external source, such as an external template store. Video summary templates can be generated based on video summaries manually created by users, or based on an analysis of popular videos or movies (for instance by including a slot for each scene in a video).

Playback Speed Modification

The video editing module 320 may incorporate a playback speed effect into an edited video and/or video summary. Playback speed effects (e.g., slow-motion, time-lapse) modify the playback timing of a video relative to the capture timing of the video. The video editing module 320 selects a portion of the video to modify with the playback speed effect. For example, the playback speed effect is applied to a portion of a video associated with a particular highlight, event, or activity. To facilitate editing the video with a playback speed effect, the template store 315 includes playback speed templates, which provide different playback speed effects. Based on a playback speed template and a portion of the video selected by the video editing module 320, the playback speed modifier 345 outputs a video with modified playback speed.

The template store 315 includes playback speed templates, each of which provides a playback speed effect such as a slow-motion effect, a time-lapse effect, or a combination thereof. When applying a playback speed effect, the amount of time to replay a frame is increased (for slow motion) or decreased (for a time lapse) relative to the amount of time to capture the frame. In one embodiment, the playback speed template specifies a playback speed ratio between the duration of playback time to display the frame (or frames derived therefrom) and the duration of capture time to record the frame. The playback speed ratio typically varies over time within the playback speed template.

In one embodiment, playback speed templates are applied to a portion of a video before and/or after a highlight moment associated with a highlight tag (e.g., an event tag, an activity tag). The playback speed template includes one or more speed nodes, each of which specifies a playback speed ratio and a time. Typically, a speed template includes speed nodes corresponding to a start time, a highlight moment, and an end time. For example, the speed nodes at the start time and end time specify a playback speed ratio of one (i.e., the playback time equals the capture time). In some speed templates, the highlight moment may coincide with the start time or end time. The playback speed template may also specify how the playback speed ratio varies between consecutive speed nodes. For example, the playback speed ratio varies linearly between a first playback speed ratio specified by an initial speed node and a second playback speed ratio specified by a next speed node.

In one example speed template, the start time is five seconds before the highlight moment, the end time is five seconds after the highlight moment, and the playback speed ratio is 2.0 at the highlight moment (i.e., the video is presented twice as slow as it was captured at the highlight moment). Continuing the example, the speed template specifies a linear increase in the playback speed ratio between the start time and the highlight time, and a linear decrease in the playback speed ratio between the highlight moment and the end time. In other words, the example speed template gradually increases the playback duration of successive video frames until the highlight moment and then gradually decreases the playback duration after the highlight moment.

Speed templates may have additional speed nodes and/or nonlinear changes in the playback speed ratio between speed nodes. For example, a speed template has multiple intermediate speed nodes to provide for moderate slow-motion effects alternating with super slow-motion effects. As another example, a speed template has a polynomial, exponential, sinusoidal, logarithmic, or step change in playback speed ratio between speed nodes. Additional example playback speed templates are illustrated in FIGS. 10A-11A.

The video editor module 320 selects a playback speed template and selects a portion of a video for application of the playback speed template. In some embodiments, a user selects the portion of the video by selecting a highlight moment. For example, a user selects a highlight moment from a list of highlight moments presented in an editor interface, and instructs the video editor module 320 to apply a playback speed template with a highlight moment at the time of the selected highlight moment. Thus, speed templates can provide one-touch playback motion effects. In some embodiments, a user may select the playback speed template from a set of playback speed templates presented by the video editor interface.

In some embodiments, users can modify parameters of speed templates. For example, a user can select a maximum (or minimum) playback speed ratio, and the video editor module 320 scales the playback speed ratios of the playback template according to the ratio of the selected maximum playback speed ratio to the original maximum playback speed ratio. A user may modify the duration between the start time and end time of a playback speed template, and the video editor module 320 modifies times of speed nodes to temporally scale the speed template. For example, a user inputs a modified duration of eight seconds for a four-second long speed template. In this example, the start time of the speed template, which was initially two seconds before the highlight moment, occurs four seconds before the highlight moment, and the end time of the speed template, which was initially two seconds after the highlight moment, occurs four seconds after the highlight moment.

In some embodiments, the video editor module 320 automatically (e.g., based on one or more rules) selects the portion of the video for the user. The video editor module 320 identifies an event tag and applies a playback speed effect with a highlight moment at the same time in the video as the event tag. The video editor module 320 may select a portion of the video responsive to a certain type of event tag. For example, the video editor module 320 applies a playback speed effect to portions of the video associated with events indicating a ski trick and snowboard jump but not to portions of a video associated with events indicating the end of a ski or snowboard run. The video editor module 320 may select a portion of the video based on a comparison to a threshold value of metadata associated with an event tag. For example, slow motion effects are applied to portions of videos tagged as ski trick events with a maximum acceleration exceeding a threshold acceleration. The threshold value of metadata may be predetermined, or the video editor module 320 may determine the threshold value of metadata (e.g., from a percentile of metadata values associated with different tagged video portions). For example, the video editor module 320 selects ski trick events associated with metadata indicating maximum accelerations in the top-twenty percent of maximum accelerations associated with the video's ski trick events.

In some embodiments, the video editor module 320 automatically (e.g., based on one or more rules) selects the playback speed template to apply to a selected portion of the video. The video editor module 320 may select the playback speed template based on a type of the event tag or based on a type of activity associated with the selected portion of the video. For example, the video editor module 320 uses different playback speed templates for ski trick events versus ski jump events. As another example, the video editor module 320 uses different playback speed templates for highlight moments in ski videos and highlight moments in surfing videos. The video editor module 320 may select the playback speed template based at least in part on metadata associated with the portion of the video (e.g., based on a comparison to a threshold). For example, the video editor module 320 selects a first template for ski trick events having a maximum acceleration exceeding a threshold acceleration and a second template for ski trick events having a maximum acceleration not exceeding the threshold acceleration.

In some embodiments, the video editor module 320 selects the playback speed template and/or the portion of the video to which the playback speed effect is applied based on a video summary template. A slot of the video summary template may specify whether to apply a motion effect to the portion of the video associated with the slot, and/or the slot may specify which playback speed template to apply to the portion of the video associated with the slot. For example, a video summary template includes slots associated with low-intensity, medium-intensity, high-intensity, and very high-intensity portions of the clip. Continuing the example, the different slots are associated with different portions of the video based on metadata, event tags, and/or activity tags. In the example, the video editor module 320 selects a time-lapse playback speed template and a slow-motion playback speed template to apply to the video portions associated with the low intensity slot and the very-high-intensity slot, respectively. When applying a playback speed effect to a video portion in a video summary template, the video editor 320 may modify the capture duration of the portion of the video so that the playback time fits the amount of time allocated to the slot of the video summary template. For example, when applying a time-lapse effect to a portion of a video selected for inclusion in a slot, the video editor 320 retrieves a portion of video having a longer duration than a slot duration specified by the slot of the video summary template.

The playback speed modifier 345 takes as input a portion of a video and a playback speed template and outputs a modified video based on the playback speed template. The modified video includes a modified portion generated by applying the playback speed effect to the input portion. The playback speed modifier 345 determines a playback time in the modified video for a frame from the input video portion based on the capture time of the frame in the input video and the playback speed ratio from speed template. For example, a frame captured at a capture time t_(c) is presented at playback time t_(p)=t_(c)+∫_(t) _(o) ^(t) ^(c) v(τ)dτ, where t_(o) is the capture time of the highlight moment, τ is template time (τ=t−t_(o)), and v(τ) is the playback speed ratio at template time τ. For times before the highlight moment, the template time τ may be negative. Based on the playback time determined for frames in the input portion, the playback speed modifier 345 generates a modified video portion. The modified video portion is included in the modified video by replacing the input portion with the modified portion and temporally shifting portions of the video after the input portion based on the increased or decreased duration of the modified portion.

In some embodiments, the playback speed modifier 345 generates additional frames for inclusion in the modified video based on the frames of the input video portion. In one embodiment, the playback speed modifier 345 determines playback times of frames of the input portions. However, the frame rate of a video portion generated by modifying playback times may have a variable frame rate due to the variable playback speed ratio of a speed template. Such a variable frame rate may result in perception of uneven or irregular playback. Also, when applying a slow-motion effect, the resulting frame rate of a video may be less than the threshold for perception of continuous motion (e.g., less than 24 frames per second (fps)). For example, a slow-motion effect with a playback speed ratio of eight reduces the playback frame rate of a video capture at 120 fps to 15 fps.

To improve playback quality of the modified video, the playback speed modifier 345 may generate additional frames for the modified portion based on the captured frames. The additional frames may be interpolated from captured frames. For example, if a slow-motion effect results in 12 fps of captured frames, the playback speed modifier interpolates a generated frame between each captured frame to output a 24 fps modified video portion. The playback speed modifier 345 may omit captured frames from the modified video portion of the video. For example, in the captured frames are spaced at an uneven frame rate, the playback speed modifier 345 generates additional frames interpolated from the captured frames at 41.67 ms intervals to generate a modified portion having a frame rate of 24 fps that includes the additional frames but omits the captured frames.

In some embodiments, the playback speed modifier 345 generates a modified video that omits one or more captured frames of the input video. For example, to provide a time-lapse effect with a playback speed ratio of 0.125 from a 30 fps input video, the playback speed modifier 345 selects every fourth frame of the video portion for inclusion in a 60 fps modified video omitting captured frames between the selected frames. The number of frames generated and/or omitted, and the playback times of the generated frames, depends at least in part on the input frame rate of the input video, the output frame rate specified for the modified video, the playback speed template, and whether the modified video is encoded in a file format that supports variable frame rates.

System Operation

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for selecting video portions to include in a video summary, according to one embodiment. A request to generate a video summary is received 410. The request can identify one or more videos for which a video summary is to be generated. In some embodiments, the request can be received from a user (for instance, via a video summary generation interface on a computing device), or can be received from a non-user entity (such as the video server 140 of FIG. 1). In response to the request, video and associated metadata is accessed 420. The metadata includes data describing characteristics of the video, the context or environment in which the video was captured, characteristics of the user or camera that captured the video, or any other information associated with the capture of the video. As described above, examples of such metadata include telemetry data describing the acceleration or velocity of the camera during the capture of the video, location or altitude data describing the location of the camera, environment data at the time of video capture, biometric data of a user at the time of video capture, and the like.

Events of interest within the accessed video are identified 430 based on the accessed metadata associated with the video. Events of interest can be identified based on changes in telemetry or location data within the metadata (such as changes in acceleration or velocity data), based on above-threshold values within the metadata (such as a velocity threshold or altitude threshold), based on local maximum or minimum values within the data (such as a maximum heart rate of a user), based on the proximity between metadata values and other values, or based on any other suitable criteria. Best scenes are identified 440 based on the identified events of interest. For instance, for each event of interest identified within a video, a portion of the video corresponding to the event of interest (such as a threshold amount of time or a threshold number of frames before and after the time in the video associated with the event of interest) is identified as a best scene. A video summary is then generated 450 based on the identified best scenes, for instance by concatenating some or all of the best scenes into a single video.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for generating video summaries using video templates, according to one embodiment. A request to generate a video summary is received 510. A video summary template is selected 520 in response to receiving the request. The selected video summary template can be a default template, can be selected by a user, and/or can be selected based on an activity type associated with captured video. The selected video summary template includes a plurality of slots, each associated with a portion of the video summary. The video slots can specify video or associated metadata criteria (for instance, a slot can specify a high-acceleration video clip).

A set of candidate video clips is identified 530 for each slot, for instance based on the criteria specified by each slot, based on video clips identified as “best scenes” as described above, or based on any other suitable criteria. For each slot, a candidate video clip is selected 540 from among the set of candidate video clips identified for the slot. In some embodiments, the candidate video clips in each set of candidate video clips are ranked, and the most highly ranked candidate video clip is selected. The selected candidate video clips are combined 550 to generate a video summary. For instance, the selected candidate video clips can be concatenated in the order of the slots of the video summary template with which the selected candidate video clips correspond.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method for generating video summaries of videos associated with user-tagged events, according to one embodiment. Video is captured 610 by a user of a camera. During video capture, an input is received 620 from the user indicating an event of interest within the captured video. The input can be received, for instance, through the selection of a camera button, a camera interface, or the like. An indication of the user-tagged event of interest is stored in metadata associated with the captured video. A video portion associated with the tagged event of interest is selected 630, and a video summary including the selected video portion is generated 640. For instance, the selected video portion can be a threshold number of video frames before and after a frame associated with the user-tagged event, and the selected video portion can be included in the generated video summary with one or more other video portions.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of identifying an activity associated with a video, according to one embodiment. A first video and associated metadata is accessed 710. An identification of an activity associated with the first video is received 720. For instance, a user can identify an activity in the first video during post-processing of the first video, or during the capture of the first video. A metadata pattern associated with the identified activity is identified 730 within the accessed metadata. The metadata pattern can include, for example, a defined change in acceleration metadata and altitude metadata.

A second video and associated metadata is accessed 740. The metadata pattern is identified 750 within the metadata associated with the second video. Continuing with the previous example, the metadata associated with the second video is analyzed and the defined change in acceleration metadata and altitude metadata is identified within the examined metadata. In response to identifying the metadata pattern within the metadata associated with the second video, the second video is associated 750 with the identified activity.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method of sharing a video based on an identified activity within the video, according to one embodiment. Metadata patterns associated with one or more pre-determined activities are stored 810. Video and associated metadata are subsequently captured 820, and a stored metadata pattern associated with an activity is identified 830 within the captured metadata. A portion of the captured video associated with the metadata pattern is selected 840, and is outputted 850 based on the activity associated with the identified metadata pattern and/or one or more user settings. For instance, a user can select “snowboarding jump” and “3 seconds before and after” as an activity and video portion length, respectively. In such an example, when a user captures video, a metadata pattern associated with a snowboarding jump can be identified, and a video portion consisting of 3 seconds before and 3 seconds after the video associated with the snowboarding jump can automatically be uploaded to a social media outlet.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of generating a video with modified playback speed using a playback speed template, according to one example embodiment. Various embodiments may include fewer, different, and/or additional steps. Some steps described as being performed sequentially may be performed in a different order or simultaneously. A video associated with a highlight tag (e.g., event tag, activity tag) indicating a capture time of a highlight moment within the video is accessed 910. If the video includes a plurality of highlight tags associated with a plurality of highlight moments, the highlight moment may be selected 920 from the plurality of highlight moments. For example, the highlight moment is selected 920 for inclusion in a summary video generated from a summary video template.

A playback speed template is accessed 930 that specifies playback speed ratios at template times comprising a template highlight time, a template start time, and a template end time. The playback speed ratios are ratios between playback duration and capture duration. The playback speed template may specify one or more progressions of playback speed ratios at times between the template start time, the template highlight time, and the template end time. A progression of playback speed ratios refers to a set of incrementally changing (e.g., increasing, decreasing) playback speed ratios between a first template time and a second template time. Accessing the playback speed template may include selecting the playback speed template based at least in part on one or more of the identified input portion, metadata associated with the identified input portion, an event tag (e.g., type of event tag), an activity tag (e.g., type of activity tag), or any other tag associated with the identified input portion of the accessed video. In embodiments where the highlight moment is selected for inclusion in a summary video, the playback speed template may be selected based on a playback speed template associated with a slot of the summary video template to be filled with a portion of the video including the highlight moment.

An input portion of the video comprising the highlight moment is identified 940 by aligning the template highlight time to the highlight capture time. The input portion of the video has a duration based on the template start time and the template end time. The input portion of the video includes video frames (or other video data) captured between a portion start time and a portion end time. In some embodiments, the portion start time and the portion end time are determined in order to match the capture time of the highlight moment in the video to a template highlight time of the highlight moment in the playback speed template, as described further in conjunction with FIG. 11B. In some embodiments, the input portion of the video is identified 940 based on a slot duration of a slot of a video template to be filled by the modified video portion.

The playback speed template is applied 950 to the input portion of the video by modifying playback durations associated with the template times according to the playback speed ratios. Applying the speed template includes generating a modified video portion according to the modified playback durations. In some embodiments, the modified video portion is generated by determining playback times of video frames in the input portion based on playback speed ratios of the playback speed template. For example, the playback time of a video frame depends on the portion start time and playback speed ratios at template times before a template time corresponding to the video frame.

A modified video comprising the modified video portion is generated 960 from the input video portion by applying the playback speed template. In some embodiments, the modified video is a video summary generated based on a video summary template, which includes a slot filled by the modified portion of the video. In some embodiments, the playback speed template is temporally scaled based on a slot duration of the slot filled by the modified portion of the video.

The modified video is provided 970, which may include sending the modified video (e.g., to client device 135, to the video server 140), storing the modified video, posting the modified video to a social network or media portal, sharing the modified video, or otherwise outputting the modified video.

Example Playback Speed Templates

FIGS. 10A-10D are graphs illustrating various playback speed templates 1000, according to one example embodiment. Each graph illustrates a playback speed ratio 1002 over time within the template. In the illustrated embodiment, the playback speed templates include speed nodes 1004 and 1006, which each specify a playback speed ratio at a template time. The speed nodes include a highlight moment node 1004. When applying the playback speed template 1000 to the video, the highlight moment node 1004 is temporally aligned with the highlight capture time of a highlight moment, as illustrated in further detail with respect to FIGS. 11A and 11B.

The speed ramp template 1000A illustrated in FIG. 10A shows a slow-motion effect where the playback speed ratio 1002 increases linearly to a speed node 1006A, remains steady before and after the highlight moment node 1004, and then decreases steadily after the speed node 1006B. Accordingly, the modified video has a constant degree of slow-motion between the times associated with the first and second speed nodes 1006.

FIG. 10B illustrates a speed ramp template 1000B where the playback speed ratio 1002 increases at a decreasing rate until the highlight moment node 1004 and then decreases at an increasing rate. In other words, the modified video has a variable degree of slow-motion between the template start time and the template end time.

In the speed ramp template 1000C illustrated in FIG. 10C, the playback speed ratio 1002 increases to a first speed ratio at speed node 1006C, decreases to a second speed ratio at the highlight moment node 1004, increases to a third speed ratio at speed node 1006D, and then decreases again. Accordingly, the playback speed template 1000C provides for a playback speed effect where the slowest motion occurs before and after the highlight moment node 1004.

In the speed ramp template illustrated in FIG. 10D, the playback speed ratio 1002 increases to speed node 1006E, decreases to speed node 1006F, and increases to a maximum slow-motion effect at the highlight moment node 1004. The playback speed ratio 1002 then decreases to speed node 1006G, increases to speed node 1006H, and decreases again back to normal speed. In other words, the modified video has slowest motion at the highlight moment (e.g., the landing of a jump), but the modified video momentarily speeds up before the highlight moment at speed node 1006F after a teaser highlight moment (e.g., the apex of a jump) at speed node 1006E. The modified video also has a secondary highlight moment at speed node 1006H (e.g., a backflip off a small kicker jump).

Example Playback Speed Template Alignment

FIGS. 11A and 11B are graphs illustrating alignment of a playback speed template 1100 to a portion of a video according to one example embodiment. FIG. 11A illustrates speed nodes of the playback speed template 1100. The playback speed nodes each specify a speed (the playback speed ratio) and a location (the template time). In the example playback speed template 1100, Speed Node 3 is a highlight moment node at a template time of 20 seconds.

FIG. 11B illustrates aligning speed nodes of the playback speed template 1100 to the input video portion. In the input video portion, the highlight moment occurs at a highlight capture time of 84 seconds. Speed Node 3 is the highlight moment node, so Speed Node 3 is aligned to 84 seconds. Each speed node is aligned to the capture time t_(c)=t_(ch)−(t_(th)−t_(t)), where t_(ch) is the highlight capture time of the highlight moment, t_(th) is the template highlight time of the highlight moment, and t_(t) is the template time of the speed node. The input portion of the video comprises video frames (or other video data) from the portion start time to the portion end time, inclusive. The portion start time is the capture time to which Speed Node 0 (the first speed node) is aligned. The portion end time is the capture time to which SpeedNode 6 (the last speed node) is aligned. In some embodiments, the template times of the speed nodes are indicated relative to the template highlight time, so t_(th) is zero and the capture time can be determined from t_(c)=t_(ch)+t_(t).

Additional Configuration Considerations

The disclosed embodiments beneficially facilitate applying playback speed effects to a video. In some embodiments, the system identifies a portion of the video, selects a speed ramp template, and applies the playback speed effect to the video without user intervention. For example, the system generates a summary video including one or more video portions with playback speed effects. The playback speed template obviates the user manually tinkering with variable playback speed ratios. Aligning playback speed templates with video portions based on highlight tags therein provides for one-touch editing. For example, a user selects an event tag for application of the playback speed effect. Speed ramp templates may be temporally scalable or have scalable playback speed ratios to provide greater flexibility for power users. Accordingly, playback speed templates facilitate editing of videos.

Certain embodiments are described herein as including logic or a number of components, modules, or mechanisms, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 3. Modules may constitute either software modules (e.g., code embodied on a machine-readable medium or in a transmission signal), hardware modules, or a combination thereof. A hardware module is tangible unit capable of performing certain operations and may be configured or arranged in a certain manner. In example embodiments, one or more computer systems (e.g., a standalone, client or server computer system) or one or more hardware modules of a computer system (e.g., a processor or a group of processors) may be configured by software (e.g., an application or application portion) as a hardware module that operates to perform certain operations as described herein.

The performance of certain of the operations may be distributed among the one or more processors, not only residing within a single machine, but deployed across a number of machines. In some example embodiments, the one or more processors or processor-implemented modules may be located in a single geographic location (e.g., within a home environment, an office environment, or a server farm). In other example embodiments, the one or more processors or processor-implemented modules may be distributed across a number of geographic locations.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, discussions herein using words such as “processing,” “computing,” “calculating,” “determining,” “presenting,” “displaying,” or the like may refer to actions or processes of a machine (e.g., a computer) that manipulates or transforms data represented as physical (e.g., electronic, magnetic, or optical) quantities within one or more memories (e.g., volatile memory, non-volatile memory, or a combination thereof), registers, or other machine components that receive, store, transmit, or display information.

Some embodiments may be described using the expression “coupled” and “connected” along with their derivatives. For example, some embodiments may be described using the term “coupled” to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact. The term “coupled,” however, may also mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other, but yet still co-operate or interact with each other. The embodiments are not limited in this context. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or.

Upon reading this disclosure, those of skill in the art will appreciate still additional alternative structural and functional designs for a system and a process for applying playback speed effects to a video. Thus, while particular embodiments and applications have been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are not limited to the precise construction and components disclosed herein. Various apparent modifications, changes and variations may be made in the arrangement, operation and details of the method and apparatus disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope defined in the appended claims. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method for applying a playback speed effect to videos, the method comprising: accessing a video associated with a highlight tag indicating a highlight capture time of a highlight moment within the video; accessing a previously stored playback speed template specifying playback speed ratios at template times comprising a template highlight time, a template start time, and a template end time, the playback speed ratios being ratios between playback durations and capture durations; aligning the template highlight time to the highlight capture time; generating a modified video by applying the playback speed ratios dictated by the previously stored playback speed template to corresponding portions of the video subsequent to the alignment of the template highlight time to the highlight capture time of the video, the application of the playback speed ratios to the corresponding portions of the video modifying playback durations of the corresponding portions of the video according to the playback speed ratios; and providing the modified video for subsequent playback.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the previously stored playback speed template specifies one or more progressions of playback speed ratios at times between the template start time, the template highlight time, and the template end time.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing the previously stored playback speed template comprises selecting the previously stored playback speed template based at least in part on a type of event tag associated with the highlight moment.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing the previously stored playback speed template comprises selecting the previously stored playback speed template based at least in part on an activity tag associated with one of the video and the input portion of the video.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: generating a summary video comprising the modified video placed in a slot of a video summary template, wherein accessing the previously stored playback speed template comprises selecting the previously stored playback speed template based on the slot of the video summary template.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the slot of the video summary template has a slot duration, and wherein aligning the template highlight time to the highlight capture time comprises: determining a default playback duration of the previously stored playback speed template according to the playback speed ratios at the template times between the template start time and the template end time; modifying the previously stored playback speed template by temporally scaling template times of the previously stored playback speed template by a ratio of the slot duration to the default playback duration, the temporal scaling of the template times modifying the template highlight time; and aligning the modified template highlight time to the highlight capture time.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the corresponding portions of the video comprises video frames, and wherein applying the playback speed ratios comprises: identifying a template frame time for individual video frame relatives to the template highlight time by comparing a capture time of the individual video frames to the highlight capture time; and determining a playback time for the individual video frames using the playback speed ratios to determine a duration of time accumulated between the template highlight time and the template frame time for the individual video frames; and wherein the modified video is generated based on the playback time determined for the individual video frames.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein generating the modified video comprises generating additional frames interpolated between the video frames to match a frame rate of the modified video with a specified frame rate.
 9. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing instructions for applying a playback speed effect to videos, the instructions when executed causing one or more physical processors to: access a video associated with a highlight tag indicating a highlight capture time of a highlight moment within the video; access a previously stored playback speed template specifying playback speed ratios at template times comprising a template highlight time, a template start time, and a template end time, the playback speed ratios being ratios between playback durations and capture durations; align the template highlight time to the highlight capture time; generate a modified video by apply the playback speed ratios dictated by the previously stored playback speed template to corresponding portions of the video subsequent to the alignment of the template highlight time to the highlight capture time of the video, the application of the playback speed ratios to the corresponding portions of the video modifying playback durations of the corresponding portions of the video according to the playback speed ratios; and provide the modified video for subsequent playback.
 10. The medium of claim 9, wherein the previously stored playback speed template specifies one or more progressions of playback speed ratios at times between the template start time, the template highlight time, and the template end time.
 11. The medium of claim 9, wherein accessing the previously stored playback speed template comprises selecting the previously stored playback speed template based at least in part on a type of event tag associated with the highlight moment.
 12. The medium of claim 9, wherein accessing the previously stored playback speed template comprises selecting the previously stored playback speed template based at least in part on an activity tag associated with one of the video and the input portion of the video.
 13. The medium of claim 9, wherein the execution of the instructions further causes the one or more physical processors to: generate a summary video comprising the modified video placed in a slot of a video summary template, and wherein accessing the previously stored playback speed template comprises selecting the previously stored playback speed template based on the slot of the video summary template.
 14. The medium of claim 13, wherein the slot of the video summary template has a slot duration, and wherein aligning the template highlight time to the highlight capture time comprises: determining a default playback duration of the previously stored playback speed template according to the playback speed ratios at the template times between the template start time and the template end time; modifying the previously stored playback speed template by temporally scaling template times of the previously stored playback speed template by a ratio of the slot duration to the default playback duration, the temporal scaling of the template times modifying the template highlight time; and aligning the modified template highlight time to the highlight capture time.
 15. The medium of claim 9, wherein the corresponding portions of the video comprises video frames, and wherein applying the playback speed ratios comprises: identifying a template frame time for individual video frame relatives to the template highlight time by comparing a capture time of the individual video frames to the highlight capture time; and determining a playback time for the individual video frames using the playback speed ratios to determine a duration of time accumulated between the template highlight time and the template frame time for the individual video frames; and wherein the modified video is generated based on the playback time determined for the individual video frames.
 16. The medium of claim 15, wherein generating the modified video comprises generating additional frames interpolated between the plurality of video frames to match a frame rate of the modified video with a specified frame rate.
 17. A computing system for applying a playback speed effect to videos, the system comprising: a non-transitory computer-readable memory storing computer-readable instructions; and one or more physical processors configured by the computer-readable instructions to: access a video associated with a highlight tag indicating a highlight capture time of a highlight moment within the video; access a previously stored playback speed template specifying playback speed ratios at template times comprising a template highlight time, a template start time, and a template end time, the playback speed ratios being ratios between playback durations and capture durations; align the template highlight time to the highlight capture time; generate a modified video by applying the playback speed ratios dictated by the previously stored playback speed template to corresponding portions of the video subsequent to the alignment of the template highlight time to the highlight capture time of the video, the application of the playback speed ratios to the corresponding portions of the video modifying playback durations of the corresponding portions of the video according to the playback speed ratios; and provide the modified video for subsequent playback.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein accessing the previously stored playback speed template comprises selecting the previously stored playback speed template based at least in part on a type of event tag associated with the highlight moment.
 19. The system of claim 17, wherein accessing the previously stored playback speed template comprises selecting the previously stored playback speed template based at least in part on an activity tag associated with one of the video and the input portion of the video.
 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the one or more physical processors are further configured to: generate a summary video comprising the modified video placed in a slot of a video summary template, wherein accessing the previously stored playback speed template comprises selecting the previously stored playback speed template based on the slot of the video summary template. 